Condiment holder



March 7, 1944. F. G. BARBER 2,343,734

CONDIMENT HOLDER Filed Oct 22, 1941 ,IIIIIIIIIA'IIUI Il' zllllllll ljlllll INVENTOR;

J g/ 2275 GBarJer Patented Mar. 7, 1944 UNITED STATES P'ATENT OFFlCE CONDIMENT HOLDER Frank G. Barber, Luzerne, Pa. Application October 22, 194i, Serial No. 416,119

2 Claims.

This invention relates to condiment holders, and its general object is to provide a holder that is primarily designed for containing at least two kinds of condiments, such as for example salt and pepper, and for dispensing either therefrom, as the holder includes a separate compartment for each condiment and an outlet common to each compartment, together with valve means for controlling communication between each compartment and the outlet.

A further object is to provide a condiment holder in which the control valve referred to can be operated with minimum effort, to bring about substantially instant dispensing of either condiment, as well as during the process of shaking the holder in the usual manner.

Another object is to provide a condiment holder, that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and extremely efficient in operation, use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through my holder.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure '3 is a top plan view of the cap.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the holder with the cap removed.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 5-5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be noted that my holder in the form shown includes a container which is preferably made from glass or the like, to provide a cylindrical body I, a reduced upper portion 2 and an exteriorly threaded neck 3, the latter being formed with an annular rib adjacent its juncture with the reduced portion to act as an abutment shoulder for the cap 4.

The container is divided into a pair of equal compartments 5 and 6, by a vertical partition I which extends throughout the height of the container, or in other words from the bottom 8 to the upper end of the neck, and each compartment is to contain a different kind of condiment such as salt in one compartment and pepper in the other. v

The cap includes a disk like top wall having formed thereon a skirt 9 that is threaded from its lower end for a portion of its height and the top wall is provided with a centrally disposed aperture Ill, that provides an outlet for the condiment of each compartment. A strip I l extends diametrically of the skirt and has its ends formed on or otherwise fixed thereto, at the top of the threaded portion, as best shown in Figure 5. The strip H is preferably of a width greater than that of the flat upper end of the partition and is dis.- posed in bearing engagement therewith, when the cap is in place, to provide a leakproof connection between the strip and the partition.

Formed on and extending inwardly from diametrically opposite sides of the skirt, as Well as formed on and extending between the strip and the top wall is a pair of flat lugs it, each being provided with a centrally disposed vertical groove l3 throughout its height. Seated in the grooves are th ends of a bowed leaf spring Hi of a width to contact the top wall and the strip for wiping engagement therewith, thus it will be seen that the spring closes the space between the top wall and the strip, and acts as a valve for controlling communication between each of the compartments and the outlet in the cap, as will be apparent upon inspection of Figure l.

The spring or valve member is bowed for disposal normally upon one side of the outlet and secured to the spring midway its ends is a stem 15 of an operating handle, for moving the spring upon the opposite side of the outlet, the stem extending horizontally from the spring and through a bearing hole in the skirt, and secured to the outer end of the stem is a knob It.

From the above description and disclosure in the drawing, it will be obvious that the condiments can be separately dispensed through the outlet in the cap, and it will be understood that the holder is inverted for that purpose. When the spring is in its normal position, as shown in Figure 2, the condiment within the compartment 5 can be dispensed, and when it is desired to dispense the condiment from the compartment 6, the spring is moved by pressing the knob, for disposal of the spring to the dotted line position of that figure. Upon releasing the knob, the spring will return to its normal position, with the result it will be seen that the spring or valve can be operated in an easy and expeditious manner, and during the process of shaking the holder.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A holder for separately dispensing difierent kinds of condiments, comprising a container, a vertical partition dividing the container into a pair of separate compartments, one for each kind of condiment, a cap including a skirt removably secured to the container and a flat top wall having an aperture centrally arranged therein to provide an outlet common to both compartments, a strip bridging the skirt and bearing against the upper end of the partition to provide a leakproof connection therewith, a pair of grooved lugs disposed upon diametrically opposite sides of the skirt between the top wall and the strip, a leaf spring valve having its ends mounted in the grooves of the lugs for wiping engagement with the top wall and th strip and for movement upon opposite sides of the outlet for controlling communication between the latter and the compartments, said valve being bowed for normal disposal upon one side of the outlet to allow dispensing of the contents of one compartment, and a handle fixed to the valve for moving the latter upon the opposite side of the outlet to allow dispensing of the contents of the other compartment.

2. A holder for separately dispensing different kinds of condiments, comprising a container, a vertical partition dividing the container into two compartments, a cap removably secured to the upper end of the container and having a top wall spaced from the partition and provided with a central opening, a strip extending across the cap and bearing against the upper end of the partition, a leaf spring valve having its ends secured in opposite walls of the cap for wiping engagement with the top wall of the cap and the strip, said valve being bowed for normal disposal upon one side of the outlet to allow dispensing of the contents of one of the compartments, and a handle fixed to the valve for bowing the same in the opposite direction to allow dispensing of the contents oi the other compartment.

FRANK G. BARBER. 

